Self-closing box



(No Model.) i

S. E. HURLBUT.

SELF GLOSING BOX.

No. 496,610. Patented a 2, 1893.

' NITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

SETH E. HUBLBUT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SELF-CLOSING BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,610, dated May 2, 1893.

Application filed October 18, 1892. Serial No.449,305. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SETH E. HURLBUT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Closing Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation, showing the box closed. Fig. 3 is an edge elevation showing one end of the box open. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the box closed. Fig. 5 is an end elevation showing the box closed. Fig. 6 is an end elevation showing the box open.

The object of this invention is to construct a box and dispense with a sliding or hinged cover, and which can be readily and easily opened, at the end by edgewise pressure and which will be self-closing on the release of the pressure by which it was opened, and have the feature of opening and closing self-contained in the body or sides of the box only and to this end the invention consists in pro viding a box formed of two duplicate sides or sections, united on their edges, leaving the body in and-of itself with a spring action, for pressure on the side edges to open an end, and the spring action to close such end when the pressure is released, as hereinafter more particularly described and pointed out in the claims as new.

In the drawings, A represents the match box, formed of two sides or sections a each a duplicate of the other and made of thin brass, steel, aluminum, silver, gold, or other metal having a spring or elasticity and possessing the property of returning to its normal or origi nal shape, or condition, or of hard rubber, celluloid and other materials or compositions having the necessary spring or elasticity and the property of self return. Each side or section has its ends I) of a semi-circular shape and each side or section is formed concave by dies or otherwise to leave a depression 0 curved at the ends and on the sides, which depressions when the two sides or sections are united form the chamber to receive the articles to be contained in the box. Each side or section has on each side edgea flanged, which flange may continue around the ends I), if desired, and these flanges 01 furnish the means for uniting the two sides or sections, by rivets e, which are passed through the flanges and are riveted down, or these flanges d can be turned on themselves to unite the two sides or sections, or the two sides or sections can be otherwise united so long as the means employed leave the ends I) perfectly free for a pressure on the side edge at either end of the box to open that end of the box. The sides or sections a are first cut in blanks of the length and shape required for the length and shape of the box, and of a dimension to form, when struck into shape by dies or otherwise, a box of the size desired. The blank is placed under a die or other former having the necessary contour to produce a side or section having a depression 0 with a rounded outer rim or wall extending entirely around the side or section, leaving on each side edge a projecting flange d. The two sides or sections for a complete box are placed together, and secured by the rivets 6 through the flanges cl, or otherwise, completing the box ready for use. The box is united on the side edges only, leaving each end free and the ends are held in close contact by the spring of the material, through the curvature of the ends and sides and the semi-circular or rounded shape of the ends, which forces the end of each side or section toward and against one another, and at the same time the resistance is not so great but what it can be readily overcome by a slight pressure on the side edges at either end of the'box,which pressure causes the ends to spread apart and opens that end of the box, for the discharge of the contents, and this spreading apart of the ends is had by reason of the pressure on the side edges which compresses the ends and throws them apart. The release of the pressure at once allows the spring or elasticity of the material to act, and as this spring or elasticity draws the ends together, the box is self-closed by the ends returning to their normal or closed position.

The box is specially adapted for use as a match box, but can be used for holding other articles, and to open the box, all that is required, is to press on the side edge at one end and spread the ends to open the box at that end, and when opened, a match orother article can be withdrawn, and as the box will open by pressure and will self-close when the edge pressure is released, the trouble and annoyance of opening and closing a hinged cover, and of removing and replacing a sliding cover, is obviated, and as to open the box requires a pressure on the side edge at the end, the box will not open accidentally in the pocket or by dropping, as is liable to occur with boxes having a hinged or sliding cover.

The construction of box shown in the drawings opens at either end, but the box can be constructed to open at one end only, by securing the sides and one end by rivets or otherwise, without departing from the spirit of my invention of a box opening at one end by pressure on the side edges, and self closing when the pressure is relaxed.

I do not wish to limit myself to any particular means for securing the sides of the box together, as they may be riveted or secured to each otherin any other suitable manner.

I do not claim broadlya box held normally closed by a spring or springs and adapted to be opened by edgewise pressure, as such construction is old; but I know of no prior construction in which the box is normally held closed through the inherent elasticity of the body of the box itself, thereby avoiding the use of extra springs for that purpose.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

1. A self closing box formed of two sides or sections of spring material united on their edges, and closed and held normally closed at the end by the inherent elasticity of its body, and opened at the end by edgewise pressure,

substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A self closing box formed of two sides or sections of spring material united on their edges, and each having a central depression forming an interior chamber with a free end closed and held normally closed by the inherent elasticity of the body of the box only, and opened by edgewise pressure through the spring of its body, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A self closing box formed entire of two duplicate sides or sections of spring material with both ends semicircularin shape, and each side or section having a central depression forming an interior chamber and the two sides or sections united on their edges, leaving a free end, closed and held normally closed by the inherent elasticity of the body of the box only, and opened by edgewise pressure through the spring of its body, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

SETH E. I-IURLBUT.

Witnesses:

0. W. BOND, FRANK S. ROBINSON. 

